Fire ignition of solid fuels



3,052,628 Patented Nov. 6, 1962 ice 3,062,628 FIRE IGNITION F SOLID FUELS Arthur G. Meier, Box 1103, Roanoke, Va. No Drawing. Filed Mar. 21, 1960, Ser. No. 16,118 8 Claims. (Cl. 44-6) This invention relates to the ignition of fires. More particularly, the invention relates to a method of igniting charcoal that is convenient, safe, and substantially free from smoke and unpleasant odor. The invention also provides a package for carrying out the method.

Heretofore, various materials have been employed for igniting charcoal for cooking or heating. Many of these have been dangerously explosive. Some have had the disadvantage of producing disagreeable smoke and/or odor which are offensive to the chef and may give an undesired taste to the food being cooked. When some prior materials have been applied to burning coals, the flame has traveled along the stream to the container, with resultant burning, explosion and injury to personnel. Some prior hydrocarbon mixtures, such as kerosene, have been unsuitable for certain packaging because they attack and soften plastic squeeze bottles.

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of prior methods by providing a method of igniting charcoal fires that is safe, convenient and substantially free from odor and smoke.

The present invention resides in the concept of igniting carbonaceous material, such as charcoal, by applying to the carbonaceous material a glycol ether or mixture having a flash point between about 100 degrees Fahrenheit and about 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Thereafter the mixture is contacted with a flame to ignite the ether, whereby the ether is ignited and in turn ignites the charcoal.

The invention also includes a durable package comprising a squeezable plastic bottle containing a glycol ether or mixture as defined above.

Among the glycol ethers which can be employed are the following, listed with their flash points.

Flash point Mixtures of glycol ethers can also be employed, such as a mixture having a flash point of 120 degrees Fahrenheit and including propylene glycol monomethyl ether; dipropylene glycol methyl ether having a flash point of 185 degrees Fahrenheit, and, tripropylene glycol methyl ether having a flash point of 250 degrees Fahrenheit.

It has been discovered that the use of such glycol ethers has several advantages. Firstly, it is safe because a flame from a match or other igniter must be placed directly in contact with the charcoal and ether mixture for ignition to occur. The inadvertent placing of a flame close to the mixture will not cause ignition. It is believed that this advantage results from the high flash point of the ethers employed, whereby the ether must be heated to pro duce combustible vapor. Because of the low volatility, the ethers employed do not evolve dangerous vapor and do not create dangerous explosive conditions.

Further, there is safety in the process of the invention because when the ether is poured onto burning coals, the

applying stream will not ignite. Thus the danger of fire traveling to the container with resultant explosion is substantially eliminated.

The process of the invention has the further advantage that the glycol ether burns completely without leaving undesired residue and without producing objectionable smoke. Further, the ethers employed can be conveniently stored without undue precautions because of its high flash point.

A further object of the invention is to provide a package including a plastic squeeze bottle containing a glycol ether or mixture thereof having a flash point between about -135 degrees Fahrenheit. Among the plastics which can be employed is polyethylene. The polyethylene squeeze bottle is neither attacked, dissolved, softened, corroded nor otherwise deteriorated by the ether.

For a better understanding of the invention and its other objects, advantages and details, reference is now made to the present preferred embodiment of the invention which is described in the following example.

To prepare a charcoal fire for cooking, place two pounds of charcoal in a mound. Pour or squirt two fluid ounces of ethylene glycol monoethyl ether over the charcoal so as to saturate the same. Next, place a match flame, or other flame directly in contact with the charcoal to ignite the ether which will burn with an intense bluish flame for five to six minutes. Substantially no odor or smoke is evolved. After about twelve minutes the charcoal will be approximately fifty percent aglow. When the charcoal is sufliciently aglow, cooking can be commenced.

Thus, it will be seen that the invention provides a method of igniting charcoal that has the advantages of safety, efiiciency and freedom from objectionable odor, smoke, and explosion.

While a present preferred embodiment of the invention has been described, it will be recognized that the invention can be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A method of igniting carbonaceous material comprising the steps: applying to said carbonaceous material a composition consisting essentially of a glycol ether having a flash point between about 100 and degrees Fahrenheit; and, igniting the ether so applied, whereby the ether burns and ignites the carbonaceous material.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said carbonaceous material is charcoal.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said composition consists essentially of a mixture of propylene glycol methyl ether, dipropylene glycol methyl ether, and tripropylene glycol methyl ether.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said composition consists essentially of ethylene glycol monomethyl ether.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said composition consists essentially of propylene glycol monoethyl ether.

6. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said glycol ether is ethylene glycol monoethyl ether.

7. A method of igniting charcoal comprising the steps: forming a mound of about two pounds of charcoal; pouring about two fluid ounces of ethylene glycol monoethyl ether on said mound to saturate said charcoal; and, plac 3 4 ing a flame in direct contact with said saturated mound; References Cited in the file of this patent whereby the ethylene glycol monoethyl ether burns and UNITED STATES PATENTS ignites the charcoal.

8. A method of igniting carbonaceous material com- 2876818 f et a1 1955 prising the steps: applying to carbonaceous material a 5 2916364 Gnmes 1959 compound selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, OTHER REFERENCES and P py glycol monomethyl ether; ting the The Condensed Chemical Dictionary, 5th Ed., Reinhold ether so applied, whereby the ether burns and ignites the 10 Pub. Corp. (1 Pages 240, 403, 457, 1122- carbonaceous material. 

1. A METHOD OF IGNITING CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL COMPRISING THE STEPS: APPLYING TO SAID CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL A COMPOSITION CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF A GLYCOL ETHER HAVING A FLASH POINT BETWEEN ABOUT 100 AND 135 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT; AND IGNITING THE ETHER SO APPLIED, WHEREBY THE ETHER BURNS AND IGNITES THE CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL. 